UN warns against spillover of Syria crisis

The United Nations has warned against the spillover of the Syrian crisis into neighboring countries, saying the Middle East would face a regional “explosion” if the war does not stop in Syria.

“If the fighting doesn’t stop, we risk an explosion in the Middle East for which the international community is not prepared,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Antonio Guterres told reporters on Friday.

The UN also called for a record-breaking USD 4.4 billion in humanitarian aid for Syria, according to press.tv.

“We are asking for 4.4 billion dollars for the whole of 2013,” said UN’s Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos.

Last month, the UN warned that the number of Syrian refugees could double and reach three million people by the end of this year if the unrest does not end.

UNHCR says it has registered close to 1 million refugees since the start of 2013 alone, which amounts to about 250,000 people each month.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian troops and security personnel, have been martyred in the violence.

Several international human rights organizations have accused “terrorists” fighting against the Syrian government committing war crimes.

M.W